Camilla Bengtsson, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and teams analyzed data on 1,998 patients with rheumatoid arthritis within age 18 to 70 and 2,252 healthy as controls. They compared those who had received routine vaccinations, such as for tetanus and flu, within five years of disease onset with those who had not been vaccinated.

Bengtsson and the teams concluded that adult vaccinations not impact to the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, and no association between antibodies and vaccination to citrullinated peptide (ACPA)-positive or ACPA-negative disease, both major subgroups of rheumatoid arthritis.

There was also no association between vaccination and risk for rheumatoid arthritis in two groups with established rheumatoid arthritis risk factors: smokers and carriers of the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope alleles.

These findings should be applied among public health care providers in order to encourage vaccinations according to recommended national vaccination schedules,” Brington said.

Related post

• Lupus and its effect to the eyes
  Monitoring eye health in lupus patients is important. First, lupus ocular complications are potentially blinding and second, eye symptoms are an indication of less obvious disease ...
• Lupus foundation of America’s chapters
  Albuquerque, NM | Contact: Call the LFA National Office at 888-385-8787 Anchorage, AK | Contact: 907-338-6332, Toll Free 800-307-5878 Atlanta, GA | Contact: 770-333-5930, To...
• Human genome lupus drug benlysta has snagged in one goal
  Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline as their co-developing says that the lupus drug called benlysta fell short of secondary goals in human trials, though it was successful in...
• Genetic defect may lead to autoimmune diseases
  A recently research, that led by Shiv Pillai of Massachusetts General Hospital in Charlestown and Harvard Medical School, reports that rare variations in a single gene can lead to ...
• Celebrities get lucky for lupus
  Heroes stars Greg Grunberg and James Kyson Lee will join host Joanna Krupa for the tournament, along with Jesse Metcalfe, Joel Madden, Scott Grimes, Corey Feldman, Lou Diamond Phil...

Then what are the symptoms of sarcoidosis?  Well, the disease is a multi-system disorder.  The symptoms commonly depend on what organ the disease affects.  Most often the disease will affect the lungs.

1. General: About one third of patients will experience non-specific symptoms of fatigue, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and an overall feeling of malaise.
2. Lymph Nodes:  Up to 90% of people with sarcoidosis have enlarged lymph nodes. Most often they are in the neck, but those under the chin, in the arm pits and in the groin can be affected.  The spleen, which is part of the lymphatic system, can also be affected.
3. Lungs:  A cough that does not go away, particularly with exertion, shortness of breath, and chest pain are the most frequently sarcoidosis symptoms with the pulmonary form of the disease.
4. Heart: Researchers estimate that cardiac sarcoidosis, affects more than 10 percent of people with sarcoidosis in the United States, and perhaps as many as 25 percent.  Sarcoidosis can cause the heart to beat weakly resulting in shortness of breath and swelling in the legs.  It can also cause palpitations (irregular heartbeat).
5. Liver:  Although between 50-80% of patients with sarcoidosis will have granulomas in their liver, most are without symptoms and do not require treatment.
6. Brain & Nervous System: From 5% to 13% of patients have neurologic disease.  Symptoms can include headaches, visual problems, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg and facial palsy.
7. Bones, Joints & Muscles:  Joint pain occurs in about one-third of patients.  Other symptoms include a mass in the muscle, muscle weakness and arthritis in the joints of the ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, hands and feet.
8. Skin:  One in four (25%) of patients will have skin involvement.  Painful or red, raised  bumps on the legs or arms (called erythema nodosum), discoloration of the nose, cheeks, lips and ears (called lupus pernio) or small brownish and painless skin patches are symptoms of the cutaneous form of the disease.
9. Eyes:  Any part of the eye can be affected by sarcoidosis and about 25% of patients have ocular involvement.  Common sarcoidosis symptoms include: burning, itching, tearing, pain, sensitivity to light, seeing black spots and blurred vision.  Chronic inflammation of the membranes or uvea of the eye and can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, and blindness.

Related post

• Lupus drug study is suspended by Roche after deaths
  Ocrelizumab is a lupus disease drug which was developed by Roche Group, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, together with Biogen Idec with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ...
• Discoid lupus for dummies
  What is discoid lupus? Lupus disease can affect to the heart, kidney, skin, nervous system and joints. When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus er...
• Lupus arthritis vs. rheumatoid arthritis
  Many people have failed to make a differentiation between rheumatoid arthritis and lupus arthritis. Both of them are autoimmune diseases. It is a disease where the immune systems a...
• 9 Basic facts about rheumatoid arthritis
  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic type of arthritis, without proper treatment it can be harmful and  live threatening. If you have signs and symptoms indicating to rheumatoid arthr...
• 8 Types of test to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis
  It is not easy to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, in the early stage. There is no single test that can clearly identify rheumatoid arthritis. Therefor doctors must diagnose rheumato...

Nodules usually affect elbows, feet, knee and hand with a preference for multiple cyst and tendons may be associated. Benign rheumatoid nodules have been noted in patients with little arthritis and no systemic disease.

These nodules are more common in children than in adults and are considered exceptional beyond the age of eighteen. Adult onset benign rheumatoid arthritis nodules are clinically identical to those found in rheumatoid arthritis.

These nodules are normally the color of the patient’s skin. They can range in size from a pea-size to a marble size or even walnut size in diameter. There can be one or more nodules in an infected area. Found in mostly chronic rheumatoid arthritis cases, nodules are associated with causing joint deformity and are associated with serious extra-articular manifestations of blood vessels, lungs and eyes. The size and severity of nodules varies and normally increases as the disease progresses.

Rheumatoid arthritis nodules are mostly benign. Doctors do not recommend treatment unless other symptoms are present. Most nodules are not painful, however those on the palms of the hands or the bottoms of the feet may become irritated. This can result in an uneven gait, problems with wearing shoes and a self-consciousness in regards to the cosmetics of the nodules.

Rheumatoid arthritis nodules treatments

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can reduce the size of rheumatoid nodules. But patients who take methotrexate may develop an increase in size and number of nodules. If nodules are thought to be a result of methotrexate treatment, a change in medication regimen may help; however, this decision must be carefully made on an individual basis.

Injections of glucocorticoids may help shrink nodules. Sometimes surgery is necessary if rheumatoid arthritis nodules become infected or cause severe symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis nodules pictures

Finger with heumatoid arthritis nodules

Elbow with rheumatoid arthritis nodules

Knee with rheumatoid arthritis nodules

Related post

• Meat may linked to inflammatory bowel disease in women
  A study at Center Hospitalier Universitaire de Bicetre in Paris Researcher, which published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology, recently tells that protein from meat and f...
• Rheumatoid arthritis treatment by bee sting venom
  Scientists have shown that bee venom contains molecules that cause enhancement in natural hormones in human body that can regulate the inflammation. They have found that the venom ...
• New therapies for lupus may be developed after HVCN1 protein discovered
  Medical Research Council (MRC) researchers at the University of Leicester have discovered a protein called HVCN1. This protein regulates antibody production through modulation of i...
• 9 Types of sarcoidosis symptoms
  Sarcoidosis causes overreact in immunity, which means that a person’s immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, causing in healthy tissue damage. ...
• Autoimmune thyroid disease may triggered by environmental agents
  According to researchers here at the American Thyroid Association meeting on May 15, 2010, multiple genetic and environmental risk factors can trigger autoimmune thyroid disease in...

Most medicines and treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are made to help manage and control the whole symptoms that caused by this disease. Some rheumatoid arthritis medicines are made to try and reduce joint damage caused by the inflammation though, and try to maintain mobility for a longer period of time.

There are two strategies employed with rheumatoid arthritis medicine. The first is to help reduce the inflammation, and the second part of rheumatoid arthritis medicine attempts to break the degenerative effects of the disease.

Over time rheumatoid arthritis destroys the tissues and muscles of the body’s joints, and this causes deformities as well as loss of movement and mobility. By slowing down this damage, patients are able to function normally for longer periods of time.

The severity of pain and stiffness experienced by rheumatoid arthritis patient does not usually indicate the extent of the disease or damage though, so early detection is a high priority. Sometimes even a few months can make a difference with how slow or fast the joint damage occurs.

There are several rheumatoid arthritis medicines that are designed to help reduce or relieve pain, inflammation and swelling. Some of these are known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, and include Aspirin, Naproxen, Advil, Motrin, and Ibuprofen. These rheumatoid arthritis medicines work by reducing the inflammation in the joints, which helps reduce the pain and swelling caused by rheumatoid arthritis.

Another type of medicine used for treating rheumatoid arthritis is known as corticosteroids. These are much stronger than NSAIDs and they also reduce inflammation while helping to improve the function and mobility of the joints affected. These medicines are often injected with a needle, and are often only used for short periods when the disease flare ups are at their worst.

Corticosteroids can cause weight gain, thinning bones, higher risks of infection, puffiness in the face, muscle degeneration, and large joint destruction.

The second type of rheumatoid arthritis medicines are designed to try and slow down the destruction of joints. These medicines are known as Disease-modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), and they tend to work at a slower rate than the first type of rheumatoid arthritis medicines. The speed at which these medicines work will vary from one person to another.

In some cases results can be seen in weeks or months, while in others it can take years. Sometimes your doctor will need to try various combinations of medicines for your rheumatoid arthritis, before finding the best combination for your specific needs.

Related post

• Heart attack may risk up to six fold in rheumatoid arthritis
  According to the results of a new study presented at the Annual Congress of the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR), if you have rheumatoid arthritis, your risk of experienc...
• Rheumatoid arthritis treatment – Drugs list
  The main purpose of rheumatoid arthritis drugs treatment is just to reduce the inflammation in the joints in order to relieve pain and prevent joint damage, but there is still no c...

Rheumatoid arthritis is strongly diagnosed if four or more of these factors are present. The first four factors commonly appear for at least six weeks.

There are various tests to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Below are the 9 types of test that commonly in rheumatoid arthritis diagnosing:

1. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test. An erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate) measures how fast red blood cells or erythrocytes fall to the bottom of a fine glass tube that is filled with the patient’s blood. The higher the sed rate the greater the inflammation. The sed rate can be high in many conditions ranging from infection to inflammation to tumors. The test is used to help determine how active the condition is.
2. Rheumatoid Factor. In rheumatoid arthritis, antibodies that collect in the synovium of the joint are known as rheumatoid factor. In about 80% of cases of rheumatoid arthritis, blood tests reveal rheumatoid factor. When it appears in patients with arthritic pain on both sides of the body, it is a strong indicator of type 2 of rheumatoid arthritis.
3. C-Reactive Protein. High levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are also indicators of active inflammation. However, because obesity also increases CRP levels, the doctor should consider a patient ‘ s body mass index when evaluating CRP levels during rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.
4. Anti-CCP Antibody Test. The presence of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) can identify rheumatoid arthritis years before symptoms develop. In combination with the test for rheumatoid factor, the CCP antibody test is the best predictor of which patients will go on to develop severe rheumatoid arthritis.
5. X-Rays. X-rays generally have not been helpful to detect the presence of early rheumatoid arthritis because they cannot show images of soft tissue.
6. Dexa Scans. The use of a technique known as dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, however, may be useful in detecting early bone loss in rheumatoid. Evidence of damage on x-rays along with elevated rheumatoid factor is a significant predictor for progressive joint destruction.
7. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Specially designed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment called extremity MRI may be able detect bone erosions in the hands of rheumatoid arthritis patients where x-rays cannot. Further evaluation is necessary.
8. Ultrasound. Special ultrasound techniques called power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) or quantitative ultrasound (QUS) may be helpful in rheumatoid arthritis. PDUS may be reliable for monitoring inflammatory activity in the joint. QUS, which is used for osteoporosis, can detect bone loss in fingers, which may prove to be a good indicator of early rheumatoid arthritis.

Related post

• Aerobic exercise safe for rheumatoid arthritis patients
  Researchers from the University of Grenoble Medical School in France determined that cardio-respiratory aerobic exercise is safe for patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis. The ...
• Rheumatoid arthritis might be triggered by stomach bacteria
  In early experiments with mice, scientists have found a bacteria living in the gut may trigger an immune response that can result in rheumatoid arthritis. "It may eventually be pos...
• Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee at a glance
  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease. It can happen to anybody with any ages and any tribes. Commonly occurs in symmetrical pattern and may affect both of knees. Rh...
• Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms – Early and major symptoms
  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation caused by autoimmune disorder, a condition when the immune system for unknown reason attacks healthy tissue. Each person with Rheumat...
• Understanding rheumatoid arthritis pain
  Understand clearly the difference between rheumatoid arthritis pain and common join pain from overusing would really help who deal with it. By noting when an activity causes joint ...

The findings helped to explain anecdotal reports of how patients who undergo bee sting therapy report improvement in their condition. It has raised hopes that bee venom can be used to develop new treatments that can help bring relief from the pain of arthritis and even prevent it from developing in the first place.

Dr Suzana Beatriz Veríssimo de Mello, an associate professor in rheumatology who led the research at the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, said bee venom caused increased levels of anti-inflammatory hormones called glucocorticoids.  She said: “Bee venom is a complex mixture of substances that are known to induce immune and allergic responses in humans.

“Nevertheless, bee venom has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis for centuries. However, the placebo effect has been described in studies investigating bee venom anti-inflammatory properties in arthritic patients.  ”Our data shows that bee venom prevents the development of induced arthritis in rabbits through the action of glucocorticoids.”

Bee Sting Therapy, in which patients endure hundreds of stings by bees in the hope of getting better, is often used as a form of alternative medicine to treat a range of conditions such as asthma and multiple sclerosis.

The new research is the first time a scientific explanation has been shown for the effect. Professor Alan Silman, medical director of Arthritis Research UK, warned that it may be some time before any clinical applications could be found.

He said: “Failure to have an adequate steroid response might allow rheumatoid arthritis to take hold, so the bee venom is a way of stimulating the body’s natural steroids to respond to the auto-immune processes that causes rheumatoid arthritis.

“However, knowing anecdotally that when some people with inflammatory arthritis are stung by bees their pain goes away for a short while is one thing; actually turning these early laboratory findings into a practical clinical application is quite another.”

Source

Related post

• Rheumatoid arthritis treatment – Drugs list
  The main purpose of rheumatoid arthritis drugs treatment is just to reduce the inflammation in the joints in order to relieve pain and prevent joint damage, but there is still no c...

Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by swollen joints, pain, stiffness, fatigue, and general malaise affects up to 1% of the global population, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing health-related quality of life (HRQL) studies found that rheumatoid arthritis patients were 40% more likely to report fair or poor general health and twice as likely to have a health-related activity limitation compared with those without arthritis.

The current study led by Athan Baillet, M.D., conducted an abstract search of relative medical journals for studies that researched rheumatoid arthritis patients and impact of aerobic exercise. The team analyzed 14 studies and meta-analysis included 510 patients in the intervention group and 530 in the control group. Participants in these studies had a mean age of 44-68 years and their rheumatoid arthritis disease duration was 1-16 years. Researchers compared HRQL, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), joint count, and pain using a visual analog scale (VAS) among patients in the studies.

“Our results show that patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis would benefit from regular aerobic exercise,” said Dr. Baillet. “Cardio-respiratory conditioning appears safe and its effects, while small, help to reduce joint pain and improve function.” Researchers assessed the efficacy of exercise on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms using standardized mean differences (SMDs) which is the difference (between groups) of mean outcome variation from baseline/SD at baseline of aerobic exercises versus non-aerobic rehabilitation. Meta analysis of the research showed that exercise improved the post-intervention quality of life (SMD=0.39), HAQ score (SMD=0.24), and pain VAS (SMD=0.31). The difference in scores between those who exercised and those who had not are considered clinically meaningful by both patients and doctors noted the researchers.

The American College of Rheumatology states that exercise is beneficially for everyone, including those with rheumatoid arthritis, and currently recommends 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity each week. Safe forms of aerobic exercise, such as walking, aerobic dance, and aquatic exercise, help arthritis patients to control weight, and improve sleep, mood, and overall health.

“While past studies have indicated that rheumatoid arthritis patients are quite physically inactive, our study shows aerobic exercise to be a safe and beneficial intervention for this group. Further trials are needed to clearly determine the clinical impact of cardio-respiratory conditioning in the management of rheumatoid arthritis,” concluded Dr. Baillet.

rheumatoid arthritis patients, aerobic exercise, rheumatoid arthritis, university of grenoble medical school

Source

Related post

• Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms – Early and major symptoms
  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammation caused by autoimmune disorder, a condition when the immune system for unknown reason attacks healthy tissue. Each person with Rheumat...
• Rheumatoid arthritis diet
  Eating some foods or avoiding some other foods may help reduce your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. According to the Arthritis Foundation, there is no specific and effective arthrit...
• Vitamins and minerals for rheumatoid arthritis patient
  Folic acid is a B vitamin found in food, it good to someone with rheumatoid arthritis. Besides from foods, folic acid can also be obtained by supplementation. It is important to pa...
• 9 Basic facts about rheumatoid arthritis
  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic type of arthritis, without proper treatment it can be harmful and  live threatening. If you have signs and symptoms indicating to rheumatoid arthr...
• 5 Tips to relieve rheumatoid arthritis pain
  Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where the immune systems attack healthy tissues, specifically the joints and cartilages. If someone affected with this disease, He/she might be in...